Sydney unit fire forces 40 to flee

Several people had to be rescued from an inner Sydney unit block after a fire broke out on the top floor.

Fire crews helped about 10 residents evacuate the property in Chippendale before extinguishing the blaze around 5.30am on Saturday morning.

About 30 others left by themselves unharmed.

"It appears as though the fire may have started in a bedroom area," NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Ian Krimmer told Macquarie Radio.

"There was some other smoke and water damage to other rooms in that unit.

"The fire has been extinguished and we're currently looking at how the fire started."